My old laptop died making it difficult to keep this blog up to date. Fortunately my new laptop is up and running, so now I am trying to get caught up.

Everyone around me is having trouble with rabbits eating everything because of the extreme drought. They mow beans and chilies off nightly. They have hit me a couple of times but not too bad. I have tried to fence them out, but I'm sure they could get in if they tried. Luckily they seem content to munch on the lawn and don't put too much effort into getting by my fences.

A few things I have learned so far: Kale grows great but the kids don't like it. Same with collards--a few will go a long ways. The cabbage family need to go in even earlier. Corn is very picky about too much nitrogen. Yellow pear tomatoes need to be separated twice as far as normal. Dill is a weed and will come up everywhere I don't have plastic.

 I have picked a few tomatoes, chilies, squash, beans, and cilantro. My corn is tasseling. Some of my chilies are 3ft high and some tomatoes 4ft. I am harvesting dill seed and coriander seed.

The watermelons and cantaloupe are just putting on.

My grapes are putting on like crazy this year

It has been a week of trials including a few in the garden. Rabbits mowed off one of my corn rows and tiny black beetles attached my chilies, bean, and cabbage plants. I applied homemade pepper spray to the corn  which is working so far on the rabbits while malathion is doing the trick on the beetles. For the pepper spray I just mix some of the hottest chili powder on hand with some water and then spray it on the corn. Rabbits don't seem to like it. Just have to be careful to reapply it if it washes off.

Emily and I eat at least one Kohlrabi every day now. Trying to find new ways to use chard. Some of the Spinach is going to seed. I ate a small carrot yesterday and I also have two zucchinis and a few chilies blooming. Need to get the rest of my beans and corn planted. Then I can sit on my butt and watch the plants grow. Don't I wish.




June 17: I have all my corn and beans planted and they are mostly up. Dill and cilantro are blooming. Waiting for that first tomato to turn red. Been eating squash flowers for a week or so.

All of my roses are blooming.

A Rose for Emily

The garden is looking very good for May 27th. I've never had this many things this big at this time of year.

We even found a couple of tomatoes.


Beets are ready. Peas have been coming off for a while. We have also been eating a few kohlbari which are quite good and easy to grow.

Can't keep up with Chard

Broccoli is blooming.

I just need some more bell peppers. The ones I planted are up but they grow so slow. I think I will buy a dozen or so, so I don't have to wait so long.

I also can't keep up with the potatoes. I need to bank them about everyother day. Half of my aspargus are finally up. The corn I planted through hole in black plastic came up much better that the plain row and is growing much faster. More heat?


Ethan's flowers are still coming along.



Roses

Friday 18th: I am at Six flags Magic Mountain with Kailab and the other seniors. Emily is the gardener this week. She claims I have a broccoli head the size of her hand and that the bell peppers have not come up yet. She is a good little gardener so hopefully everything will be good when I get back after being gone for four days.

So I think I have about everything in the ground. Of course I still have a couple batches of corn to plant but otherwise everything is planted.

About a week ago I planted a row of sorghum that Dad gave me (Happy Birthday Dad). They should give my beans something to climb on and provide some good bird watching opportunities in the fall. Oh and they are a nice treat. That reminds me--I still have to plant some more beans.

This week I put out some more cabbage, finished of the chili and tomato rows, replaced some plants that died, planted some cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, and (what the heck) a couple hills of eggplant. Also planted a row of bell peppers since I can't figure out which of my remaining chili plants are bells.

This is my normal week for putting in the garden. It is sure nice to be eating veggies instead of just planting them. Now it is time for that long wait until the first tomato sets and then eventually ripens. At least I can chew on some lettuce, spinach, chard, or peas while I wait.

Roses, chives, and thyme are blooming. I even planted a few flowers (ones you cant eat) for Laura for Mother's Day

I haven't planted anything else. Getting ready to take Ethan to MCT next week but here are some pictures of my arugula, broccoli, and kohlrabi.

Arugula with chard in foreground

Broccoli is taking off

Kohlrabi is growing away

Sunday April 29th: First two squash are coming up. Also corn is peaking through. No beans yet.



Wednesday May 2nd: The rest of the potatoes and squash decided to come up along with the beans. Also the cucumbers came up outside and inside.

Thursday May 3rd: Transplanted another row of tomatoes and two rows of cabbage/kale/cauliflower. Spotted some aphid on lettuce in greenhouse, Sprayed with soapy water.